SLATY FORK, W.Va. — I travel US-219 through West Virginia often — mainly through the southern part of the state, but occasionally, I travel north. It seems my car knows the way, leaving my mind space to watch the countryside and daydream. I've found myself wondering where exactly I am during a trip.
In the spring and winter, I scout the mountainsides for seasonal waterfalls. Just south of Union and the Indian Creek Covered Bridge, there falls a lovely freshet surrounded by thousands of bluebells in the spring. It leaves me breathless and usually warrants a stop by the side of the road.
On the way to Elkins from the Greenbrier Valley, about 25 minutes north of Marlinton, the towns of Slatyfork and Valley Head lie about 14 miles apart in the valley following the Big Spring Fork of Elk River. A few things are worth slowing down on the highway between them—if not stopping.
Sharp’s Kissing Bridge
At Slatyfork, Sharp's Kissing Built was built in 2005 by Ken Gibson for his great uncle, Dave Sharp. His uncle's wish had been to one day own a red covered bridge, and he would regale listeners with memories of sneaking a kiss in an old covered bridge.
Old Stone Fountain
Pull off the highway and park at the worked stone fountain erected by the Works Progress Administration. During the New Deal, the administration employed millions of unskilled workers nationwide for public works projects.
The fountain was designed to provide drinking water to travelers and refill radiators of overheating cars. Remnants of these fountains can be found elsewhere along 219, and an almost identical stone fountain may be found to the south at, fittingly, Fountain Spring near Peterstown.
Valley Head Fountain
Another stone fountain was built at Valley Head, though not by the administration. It is made of dark stones and seems reminiscent of an older world. According to Will Fanning, of The Brazenhead Inn, a bar also operated near the fountain.
Carolyn Swecker, who lived nearby, recounted an incident at the fountain published in "He Saw Her Reflection First," — an oral history interview by the Traveling 219 Project.
"Carolyn Swecker, George’s wife, tells us of a happier time when she and George met. It was at a wiener roast held around The Old Stone Fountain. At that time, water still ran in the fountain, and this kind of festivity for young people in the town was common.
Carolyn Swecker recalled during the interview:
"We met at the fountain for a wiener roast for my brother-in-law. It was a beautiful park area with picnic tables, and the state used to have picnic tables on wide spots along Route 219. They had a pump there with water and swings for the children and everything, and they kept them mowed, and they were nice.
"And I met him there, and he was with another girl, but he — they took me home, and, then, he asked me out for the next Saturday evening, and I finally agreed to go, and he says he saw my reflection in the water, which used to pump through the — the, uh — fountain before he saw me. And he knew that I was the one.”
To find their fountain, drive north on Route 219 from Valley Head. You will see the fountain on your left about a half mile past the Brazenhead Inn.
My thanks to i-treks and the Traveling 219 Project for help in solving the mysteries of the fountains.
Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email weekly. Sign me up!
